It was learnt that, from January to August, a total of 43,483 patents for invention were granted in Guangzhou, up 44.2% year-on-year. To promote the integration of intellectual property and science and technology development, Guangzhou is planning to make the “Award for Patents” and the “Mayor’s Award for Intellectual Property” parts of the “Awards for Science and Technology” and make explorations to establish the key industry intellectual property operation fund.

 

It was said that, from January to June 2016, Guangzhou saw 12,848 applications for patents for invention, up 69.2%; 18,137 applications for patents for utility model, up 89.1% year-on-year; 10,388 applications for design patents, up 43.7% year-on-year. At the same time, the applications for patents for invention of the whole country totaled 487,498, up 35.2% year-on-year; that of the whole province totaled 62,171, up 48.9% year-on-year. The increase of applications for patents for invention of Guangzhou was respectively 34 percentage points and 20.3 percentage points higher than the national level and provincial level, ranking first among 19 cities at vice-provincial level and above, and continuing a fast increasing trend since last year.

 

The number of applications for patents from enterprises had a sharp year-on-year increase of 102%, and the number of applications for patents for invention meeting certain designated standards had an increase of 78.3%. The applications of enterprises for patents accounted for 53.9% of the city total, much higher over the same period of last year (45.2%), indicating that the enterprises in Guangzhou is playing a more and more dominant role in patent application. The applications of enterprises for patents for invention accounted for 47% of the city total, slightly higher over the same period of last year (44.6%).

 

The number of applications from individuals had a very large increase, too, reaching 90.8%, even higher than the increase of enterprises’ applications. Its proportion in the applications for patents for invention of the whole city increased from 17.7% during the same period of last year to 19.9%. In the first half of 2016, a total of 7,276 applicants submitted applications for patents, up 46.3% year-on-year, including 2,723 applicants for patents for invention, up 47.4% year-on-year.

 

It was learnt that, from January to July, Guangzhou saw 413 applications for international patents based on the PCT, up 60% year-on-year, ranking fourth among 19 cities at vice-provincial level and above. At the same time, the whole country saw 17,376 such applications, up 43.9% year-on-year, and the whole province saw 10,288 such applications, up 51.1% year-on-year.

 

There were a number of universities and colleges (such as Guangdong University of Technology, Sun Yat-Sen University) and enterprises with a great increase of applications for patents for invention. Canton Damekiss Daily Chemical Factory Limited Company and Guangzhou (Jinan) Biomedical Research and Development Center had a sharp increase. The former, which is located at Liwan District, is one of the earliest Chinese enterprises specializing in OEM production of cosmetics, while the latter, which is located at Tianhe District, is a service platform for development of biomedicine technology jointly invested and established by Jinan University and the government of Guangzhou.

 

Guangzhou Patent Office made suggestions for amendment of the Incentive Measures of Guangzhou for Science and Technology Development and the Rules for the Implementation of the Incentive Measures of Guangzhou for Science and Technology Development. The government of Guangzhou is planning to make the “Award for Patents” and the “Mayor’s Award for Intellectual Property” parts of the “Awards for Science and Technology” to substantially manifest the foundational role of intellectual property in motivating science and technology innovation and promoting economic transformation and upgrading.

 

In addition, Guangzhou Patent Office will also accelerate the progress of the patent navigation program for key industries and establish an integrated connection mechanism between the municipal and district governments for the construction of patent navigation pilot areas. Great efforts will be made to promote the establishment of patent alliance of key industries and guide the “little giant” enterprises in science and technology innovation and high-tech enterprises to establish a perfect intellectual property management system.

 

Source: Translated from Invest Guangzhou, September 9, 2016